Jir Donates In Support Of NKST Isako

... Says nothing should be too small or big in support of God's work.

By Terfa Naswem 

Benue State Commissioner for Transportation, Power and Renewable Energy, Hon. Joseph Ter Jir on  commended NKST Church Isako, Wannyam Classis, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State for making significant impact on the lives of members, immediate community, Ukum and Benue State through its impactful gospel.

He made the commendation on Sunday, 1st February, 2026 during the Thanksgiving service, dedication and commissioning of the church building and celebration of numerous projects by the church.

In complementing the good work NKST Isako is doing, he made a cash donation, and promised to give the church a transformer and install solar lights in strategic positions within the church premises.

Hon. Jir encouraged christians to always support financially and materially to the service of God and should not consider anything too small or too big to give for the work of God in spreading the gospel for salvation to be obtained.

In commending the administration of the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, he made it lucid that the governor has the people of Ukum and Sankara at heart and will continue to do his best to ensure that peace, unity and development strive in the area against all odds.

The President of NKST Worldwide, Rev. Dr. (Amb.) N. A. Adure JP expressed his delight for the honour given to the church and extended his profound gratitude to Hon. Jir for honouring the invitation as chairman and making huge cash donation and other things to the development of the church.

Similarly, Rev. Pastor Ioryem Amokaha who delivered the sermon commended Hon. Jir for supporting the church and prayed to God to continue to guide and protect him and grant him all his heart desires.

Hon. Jir was accompanied to the service and event by one of his best friends, Comr. Samuel Ternenge Ikyegh, Director Samanas and Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Branch II Gboko, Benue State.

Discharged Soldiers Petition Army Chief Over Unpaid Benefits, Alleged Discrimination

By Our Reporter 

A group of voluntarily discharged personnel of the Nigerian Army, identified as Batch B 2025, have formally petitioned the Chief of Army Staff over what they described as persistent non payment of their post discharge entitlements and alleged discriminatory treatment following their disengagement from service.

In the petition dated after their exit from the Army on November 30 2025, the former soldiers said several benefits due to them under existing military regulations and national laws remain unpaid more than two months after their discharge, leaving many in financial distress.

According to the petition, the affected personnel complained that their terminal leave allowance has not been paid despite being a standard entitlement for disengaged soldiers. They also alleged that the statutory three month upfront payment provided under the Mobilisation Administration and Finance Arrangement MAFA has been withheld without any explanation from the authorities.

More troubling, the ex personnel accused the Army of discriminatory treatment in salary and allowance payments. They claimed that officers from the rank of Warrant Officer and above who were discharged on the same date received their December 2025 salary and scarce skill allowance, while Staff Sergeants and below were excluded.

The petitioners argued that this disparity violates constitutional provisions on equality and fairness as well as long standing military principles, especially since all affected personnel share the same discharge date and legal status.

They further raised concerns over other outstanding allowances which they said remain unpaid, as well as what they described as serious administrative lapses after their disengagement. Chief among these is the alleged withholding of their discharge certificates and the failure to invite them for final documentation more than 60 days after leaving service.

The former soldiers noted that the delay has negatively affected their access to pensions, post service employment opportunities and other civil documentation. They also expressed concern that no official circular signal or policy directive has been issued to explain the delays or payment disparities, a situation they said offends the principles of transparency and fair hearing.

Anchoring their demands on the Armed Forces Act MAFA provisions and relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the petitioners appealed to the leadership of the Nigerian Army to intervene urgently.

They called for the immediate release of their discharge certificates, payment of all outstanding entitlements including terminal leave allowance and MAFA benefits, and a clear written explanation for the alleged unequal treatment in salary and allowance payments.

The petition was also copied to the Minister of Defence the Ministry of Defence the Military Pensions Board the Chief Financial Officer Army and the Chief of Personnel Management Army.

The ex soldiers said they submitted the petition with full respect for military hierarchy and discipline, expressing confidence that the Army leadership would act to uphold justice fairness and the welfare tradition of the institution.

Fixing Nigeria’s Broken Supply Chains Could Unlock Billions and Reshape the Economy — RBSN Report

By Akonasu Gbedozin 

A new report by Rome Business School Nigeria has warned that Nigeria’s economic growth food security and industrial development are being quietly undermined by weak and fragmented supply chains even as it reveals that fixing these gaps could unlock billions of naira and transform the economy.

The report released in January 2026 describes supply chain management as the invisible system that keeps the country running linking farms to markets factories to ports hospitals to suppliers and consumers to essential goods. According to the study addressing long standing inefficiencies in Nigeria’s supply chains could add between two and three percent to annual GDP growth reduce inflationary pressure and create jobs across key sectors.

The report stresses that supply chains are no longer just about moving goods but about shaping national development and everyday quality of life. It notes that when supply chains fail ordinary Nigerians feel the impact immediately through food shortages higher prices and limited access to medicines but when they work growth becomes inclusive and sustainable.

Tracing Nigeria’s supply chain evolution the report recalls the colonial era when the economy revolved around exporting raw materials such as cocoa palm oil and minerals and the oil boom of the 1970s which restructured trade and logistics around petroleum. While oil and gas still account for about 90 percent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings the report points out that these supply chains remain highly vulnerable to theft vandalism and bureaucratic delays costing the country billions of naira every year.

Beyond oil Nigeria exports over 1.5 billion dollars worth of cocoa and sesame annually yet much of the value is lost due to poor logistics limited local processing and weak links between farmers processors and exporters. These gaps according to the report continue to deny the country the full benefits of its vast agricultural potential.

Infrastructure challenges remain one of the biggest bottlenecks. Only a small fraction of Nigeria’s 195000 kilometres of roads are paved pushing transport costs up by as much as 40 percent and driving final consumer prices higher by nearly 30 percent. Congested ports unreliable electricity and inadequate cold storage facilities also contribute to massive post harvest losses with up to 40 percent of perishable crops spoiling before reaching the market.

Security issues further disrupt the movement of goods. Banditry in the North and vandalism in the Niger Delta frequently interrupt supply routes putting drivers and logistics workers at risk and increasing the cost of doing business. The report also highlights the 2023 removal of fuel subsidies as a major shock noting that rising transport and logistics costs have strained supply chains and worsened price pressures for consumers.

While the COVID 19 pandemic pushed many businesses toward digital tools such as e procurement and online inventory systems Nigeria still lags behind in adopting advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and blockchain. High costs poor broadband coverage and a shortage of skilled professionals continue to limit adoption especially among small and medium sized businesses.

The impact is most visible in agriculture and healthcare. Smallholder farmers who produce most of Nigeria’s food often lose large portions of their harvest because poor roads and storage prevent timely access to markets and processors. In the health sector weak supply chains have led to recurring shortages of essential medicines including malaria drugs particularly in northern Nigeria while unreliable power and poor cold chain systems damage vaccines and other temperature sensitive products.

Despite the challenges the report strikes an optimistic tone. It identifies the African Continental Free Trade Area as a major opportunity projecting that intra African trade could grow by more than 20 percent if countries improve logistics customs processes and infrastructure. It also points to city based warehousing electric delivery vehicles and greener logistics models as emerging solutions that could cut costs reduce emissions and support the growth of e commerce.

Speaking on the findings Prof Antonio Ragusa Dean and Founder of Rome Business School Nigeria said the country is at a critical crossroads where long standing weaknesses can be turned into competitive advantages with the right reforms.

Nigeria has the resources the market and the talent he said what is needed now is coordinated action to modernise infrastructure embrace technology and build resilient supply chains that work for businesses and citizens alike.

The report concludes that strengthening supply chain management is no longer just a business concern but a national development priority. With the right mix of policies private investment and regional cooperation it says Nigeria can unlock new growth improve food and health security and build a more resilient economy for the future.